The Anti-Partition Movement: Catalyzing the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement

The Swadeshi and Boycott Movement had its roots in the anti-partition campaign led by moderates in the years preceding the actual movement (1903-1905). This campaign was primarily aimed at opposing the proposed partition of Bengal and laid the foundation for the Swadeshi Movement. The call for passive resistance and the pursuit of independence through sacrifice marked a significant shift in the nationalist movement. It showcased a more radical approach, emphasising a complete rejection of involvement in institutions that supported British rule, aiming to make the administration unworkable and ultimately striving for India’s complete freedom from foreign governance.

Under Moderate Leadership

Mobilisation of public opinion: Between 1903 and 1905, leaders such as Surendranath Banerjea, K.K. Mitra, and Prithwishchandra Ray spearheaded the resistance against the unjust partition of Bengal. They employed various peaceful methods, including petitions, public gatherings, memoranda, and disseminating information through pamphlets and newspapers like Hitabadi, Sanjibani, and Bengalee. 

• Their primary aim was to mobilise public opinion in India and England to thwart the implementation of the divisive partition.
• Announcement of Partition: Despite vehement public opposition, the government announced the partition in July 1905. This led to widespread protests across small towns in Bengal. It was during these gatherings that the decision to boycott foreign goods was initiated. 
• • Boycott Resolution: On August 7, 1905, during a massive meeting at Calcutta Town Hall, the formal declaration of the Swadeshi Movement was made with the passage of the Boycott Resolution. 
    • Subsequently, leaders dispersed across Bengal to promote the boycott of Manchester cloth and Liverpool salt.
• Day of Mourning: When the partition officially took effect on October 16, 1905, Bengal observed it as a day of mourning. People fasted, bathed in the Ganges, and participated in processions singing “Bande Mataram” which emerged as the movement’s anthem. 
  • Rabindranath Tagore composed “Amar Sonar Bangla,” the national anthem of present-day Bangladesh, which was sung by large crowds marching in the streets. Symbolising unity, people tied rakhis on each other’s hands.
• Support for the Movement: Surendranath Banerjee and Ananda Mohan Bose addressed significant gatherings, raising Rs. 50,000 for the movement within hours. The movement expanded beyond Bengal. 
  • It became a nationwide expression of resistance against colonial policies under prominent figures such as Tilak in Poona and Bombay, Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh in Punjab, Syed Haider Raza in Delhi, and Chidambaram Pillai in Madras. 

Movement under Extremist Leadership

The Swadeshi and Boycott Movement took on a more assertive and radical character under extremist leadership within the Indian National Congress. Extremist leaders, such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Lala Lajpat Rai, played a significant role in shaping and intensifying the movement. Here’s an overview of the movement under extremist leadership:

• Failure of Moderate-Led Movement: The initial leadership by Moderates did not yield the desired outcomes, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction among the people. This failure prompted a shift in influence towards a more radical approach.
• Bitterness due to Divisive Tactics: The strategies employed by the governments of both Bengals in implementing the partition had a divisive and embittering effect on the nationalist sentiment. 
  • This bitterness fueled a more radical approach among the activists, who felt the need for stronger and more decisive actions against such divisive policies.
• Suppressive Measures by the Government: The government resorted to harsh and suppressive measures, which intensified the grievances and discontent among the people. 
  • These measures included atrocities on students, imposition of corporal punishment, the banning of the public singing of Vande Mataram, restrictions on public gatherings, prosecution, and long imprisonment of Swadeshi workers. 
  • Additionally, there were clashes between the police and civilians in various towns, along with the arrests and deportation of leaders. 
  • The government also curtailed freedom of the press, further fueling the dissatisfaction and radicalization of the movement.

The Extremist Programme

The Extremist Programme was an integral part of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement during India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule. The Extremist Programme, on the other hand, represented the more radical and militant dimension of this larger movement. 

• Passive Resistance: Following Dadabhai Naoroji’s assertion at the Calcutta session in 1906 that self-government or “swaraj” was to be the ultimate objective of the Congress, the Extremists within the nationalist movement escalated their efforts. They called for not just Swadeshi and boycott but also passive resistance. 
  • This resistance included boycotting government institutions such as schools, colleges, services, courts, legislative councils, municipalities, and government titles. 
  • The purpose of the movement, as articulated by Aurobindo, was to render the administration under existing conditions impossible by organizing a concerted refusal to engage in anything that would support British commercial exploitation of the country or aid British officialdom in its governance.
• Mass Struggle and Self Sacrifice: Militant nationalists aimed to transform the anti-partition and Swadeshi Movement into a mass struggle, advocating for India’s independence from foreign rule. Aurobindo, among others, emphasized that “political freedom is the lifebreath of a nation.” 
  • The Extremists elevated the idea of India’s independence to a central position in the country’s political discourse. Their goal was the achievement of independence through acts of self-sacrifice.

Conclusion

The Anti-Partition campaign, initially led by moderates, marked a pivotal shift in India’s nationalist movement. Despite early peaceful efforts, the government’s suppressive measures and the divisive impact of the Bengal partition fueled a more radical approach under extremist leaders. Their call for Swadeshi, boycott, and passive resistance highlighted a growing determination for complete independence. This movement laid the foundation for India’s eventual freedom, emphasizing self-sacrifice and mass struggle as key strategies.

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